The enforcer: the myth and reality of organised crime's hard man

Millennium Films Vividly portrayed in films from The Godfather to The Sweeney, the idea of criminal enforcement using threats, intimidation, assault and murder has long been an established underworld practice. Despite the widespread cultural fascination with this shadowy part of society, there is little in the way of academic workContinue Reading

A-level debacle has shattered trust in educational assessment

Students protest against A-level results, August 16 2020. I. Salci/Shutterstock After five days of uncertainty and anxiety, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced on August 17 that students in England would be awarded their centre assessment grades (CAGs) this summer – that is, the grade their school or college expected theyContinue Reading

Obesity strategy: policies placing responsibility on individuals don't work – so why does the government keep using them?

Most of these initiatives still place emphasis on getting people to change their eating and lifestyle habits. Africa Studio/ Shutterstock The government has recently announced a strategy aimed at reducing obesity in the UK. It will introduce a ban on unhealthy food advertisements on TV before a certain hour, endContinue Reading